A Republican senator asked the governor to return $49 million in federal funds intended for President Obama’s health care plan he administration accepted earlier this year for the second time Monday.

Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, released a statement Monday asking Gov. Scott Walker to return funds allocated to Wisconsin by the federal government to speed up the development and exchanges of “ObamaCare” programs, according to Lasee’s chief of staff, Rob Kovach.

Kovach said Lasee sent a similar request to the administration last week, but did not receive a response. Both Kansas and Oklahoma have returned the healthcare funds to the federal government, leaving Wisconsin the only state with a Republican governor that has not.

Wisconsin recently joined lawsuit efforts with other states to dispute the constitutionality of Obama’s health care plan, Kovach said.

“Everyone should be raising an eyebrow over the mixed messages the state leadership has sent,” Kovach said. “We are in a lawsuit to prevent ObamaCare, and at the same time, are working to be one of the first [states] to implement it.”

Rep. Sandy Pasch, D-Whitefish Bay, said returning the federal funds would be a “clear instance of political posturing,” in an email to The Badger Herald.

Pasch also said returning the funds would be a political move not in the state’s best interest.

“Should Walker decide to return these funds, it would only further expose his willingness to play politics with the health of our communities and pander to extreme interests at the expense of our children and families,” Pasch said.

If Walker does return the money, Pasch said, the federal government would be allowed to make Wisconsin’s health care decisions. She added the federal government will make these plans for the state if Wisconsin does not make its own plans for health care exchanges.

According to Pasch, returning the funds to the federal government would create costs in the future and place an unfunded mandate on the state.

“Returning these federal funds is penny-wise, pound-foolish and would be a missed opportunity for Wisconsin to become a leader in the development of technology for state exchanges,” Pasch said.